William Rees-Mogg is rightly a Fleet Street legend - editing The Times through a tumultuous period with flair and integrity. I always found him full of wisdom and good advice - particularly when I first became Leader of the Opposition. My thoughts are with his wife and five children at this sad time.

Lord Rees-Mogg edited the paper from January 1967 up until March 1981, when Rupert Murdoch completed his purchase of The Times and The Sunday Times titles.

His younger son, Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, said his father, who also chaired the Arts Council and vice-chaired the BBC during his distinguished career, had been diagnosed in recent weeks with inoperable oesophageal cancer.